Human Experiences Can Be Difficult but Transformative: Comparing 'Billy Elliot" and ‘Deng Adut University of Western Sydney Advertisement’ Rachelle Evans 12th Grade

Breaking away from the collective human experience can be difficult but transformative. Anomalies, paradoxes and inconsistencies of the human experience entice viewers to confront their personal assumptions and challenges their already ingrained beliefs on others in society. Steven Daldry’s film, ‘Billy Elliot’, reveals how people’s experience of the world can be different, but when challenged they become transformative. The protagonist, Billy Elliot is growing up in a patriarchal society and struggles to overcome adversity, determined to pursue his dreams whilst also enduring the loss of his mother and family hardship. In the related text, ‘Deng Adut University of Western Sydney Advertisement’, a young man named Deng, goes through a traumatic childhood; however, like Billy, Deng overcame his early adversities and lived a life of great purpose.

Individual and collective human experiences may vary and often lead to insight into the complex human condition. Billy is situated in the Northern England town of Everington in 1984 in the midst of mining strikes and is trapped in a world of inflexible traditions and stereotypes, including ballet dancing is not for boys, and this influences his ability to overcome adversity. Above all,...